Wayfarer boat store sold to Port Harbor

ROCKPORT – Port Harbor Marine, a family-owned business based in South Portland, has purchased Wayfarer Harbor Marine’s boat sales division on Route 90.

The boat business opened Sept. 1 for its first day under new ownership. The company plans to expand the operation in Rockport and to continue to employ Wayfarer staff.

The Wayfarer marina in Camden will not be affected by the purchase, according to a press release. Wayfarer Marine has had difficulty expanding at its Camden location and is investigating the possibility of locating a satellite facility in Belfast.

The Route 90 boat store, built five years ago, has 8,400 square feet of space, featuring a showroom, spare parts store, and a service and detailing shop. Port Harbor Marine will add Sea Ray, Grady White and other boat lines to its existing inventory.

The expansion will boost buying power for Port Harbor Marine, which it says will result in better prices on boats and marine supplies.

Port Harbor Marine touts its business as Maine’s largest boat dealership and one of the largest dealers north of Boston. The company has a dealership and marina in Raymond on Sebago Lake with wet slips and dry storage for 150 boats; a sales and service location in Holden; an outlet store in Saco; and a small marina with 44 slips in Bucksport Harbor.

The company has 275 slips at Spring Point in South Portland and 105 slips nearby at Breakwater. As Port Harbor Marine celebrates its 40th anniversary in South Portland, its staff has grown to 70 and offers a full range of services, including hauling, storage, repair and sales.